Car-signal.



PATENTEDJUNE '2, 1903.

M. L. AKERS. GAR SIGNAL. urmcnmx; PIPER!) MAR. 2: 1902.

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UNTTnn STATES i atented June 2, 1903.

MATTHEW L. AKERS, o LoUIsvILLE, KENTUCKY.

CAR-SIGNAL.

SPEGIFlGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No, 729,911, dated June 2, 1903. Application filed March 28. 1903. Serial No. 150,054. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW L. AKERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of 5 Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oar-Signals, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to car-signals, and the object of the invention is to provide a signal-lantern adapted to be placed upon a car to warn persons passing immediately behind cars, particularly street-cars operated upon double-track surface roads, against cars approaching from the opposite direction on the other onadjoining track.

The invention consists of a signal-lantern comprising an opaque casing constructed of matched sections and having suitable open ings in its sides forming words i of warning and a transparent globe arranged and snugly fitting Within said Leasing and of a'contrast ing color to that of the casing, whereby the signal may be observed in day-time as well as at night, all as I will proceed now. more particularly toset forth and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustratingthe invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. is a front view partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 4: is a side elevation showing the application ofthe invention to an ordinary electric headlight.

Incarrying out the invention in its preferred form I provide an oval or pear-shaped casing, constructed of anysuitable opaque material, in two opposing concavo-convex sections 1 and 2, flared or curved at their front ends to form a neck 3 and said ends or neck closed or covered by semicircularplates 4, provided at their meeting edges with a suitable hinge 5, whereby the parts or sections may be, opened and closed. The rear ends of the sections are flared or curved to form a neck 6, the outer edges of said neck being constructed to fit against the dashboard of a car, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and in order to secure the casing upon the dashboard the flaring portion of the neck 6 of the lower section 2 may be fixed to the dashboard by means of rivets, bolts, screws, or hooks, either cured to the upper section 1, engaging a catch 10, secured to the lower section 2-for lockin g them together when closed, as shown in Fig. 1. Of course it will be understood that the fastening device may be duplicated upon the opposite side of the casing.

The lower section 2 is provided with a central opening 11, and projecting upwardly in said opening is a flange or collar 12, suitably constructed to receive an oil, electric, or any other lamp or illuminating device.

An opening 13 is provided in the top of the upper section 1 when necessary for the purpose of affording ventilation for the lamp, and a ventilator-cap 14 is fitted over said opening to prevent the lamp from being extinguished by downdrafts. I

If desired, the opening 13 and the ventila tor-cap ltmay be suitably modifiedor it may be dispensed with entirely when an electric light is used. U i l The opaque casing isprovided upon opposite sides with any suitable words of warning, the letters constituting such words preferably being cutor stenciled in the upper and lower sections of the casing, and Ihave herein shown such words of warning to be WVatch Other Track.

Within the casing is a transparent globe 15, preferably of glass, suitably ground, frosted, or colored to contrast with the exterior of the casing, whereby the words of warningmay be plainly observed andrea-d when the lantern is illuminated from the inside andas plainly observed and read in the day-time when not illuminated. This transparent globe 15 is constructed to fit snugly within the casing when the sections thereof are closed and is provided with front and rear flared openings or neck portions 16 and 17, respectively, to fit ICO neck portions 3 16 and 6 17, to thereby prevent rattling of the transparent globe within the casing.

The transparent globe 15 is also provided with top and bottom openings 20 and 21, re spectively, corresponding with the top and bottom openings in the casing, the opening 21 fitting over the inwardly-projecting collar or flange 12 of the casing.

When it is desired to remove the inner transparent globe for purposes of cleaning or for replacing it by a new 011e, should it become broken or damaged, it is only necessary to unfasten the catches 9 10 and swing the upper section 1 upon its hinge 5, whereby, the transparent globe is rendered accessible and it may be lifted from its seat in the lower section of the casing.

The signal or lantern may be supplied with any suitable illuminating device, such as'an oil lamp, which may be fixed to the collar 12, or an electric light supplied from any suitable source, the terminals or wires of which may be passed through an opening 22 in the dashboard (see Fig. 2) and connected with the terminals of the lamp. The lantern may thus be illuminated for use at night, whereby the words of warning are made plainly visible to persons passing to the rear of the car toward the adjoining track. In the day-time, when the illumination of the lantern is not necessary, the illuminating device may be removed if desired or it may remain; but the signal or words of warning will remain plainly visible due to the contrasting colors of the outer casing and the inner transparent globe.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the application of my invention to an ordinary permanent electric headlight now commonly used upon street-railway cars, and in this form of my invention the rear opening of the outer casing instead of being flared, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is made straight or cylindrical, as at 23, Fig. 4, and adapted to fit over the casing of such an ordinary electric headlight, and is provided with a split clamping-ring 24 or other suitable fastening device, whereby the lantern may be securely but removably fixed to such headlight, and as thus arranged the light of such headlight is diffused within the lantern and the signal or words of warning made plainly visible at night.

Of course it will be understood that the signal should always be placed upon the rear of the car, and in this form of the device the lantern may be easily detached and changed from one end of the car to the other, as is de sired or necessary.

By this invention a signal is provided to be attached to the rear dashboard of a car, and especially upon those cars in service upon double-track surface roads, which will be plainly observed, both by day and night, by persons attempting to pass to the rear of the car toward the adjoining track, and the person or persons thus notified or warned of the danger of crossing the adjoining track, thus guarding against coming in contact with a car coming in the opposite direction 011 the adjoining track.

In order to attract attention to the signal, an electric or other bell, as at 25, Fig. 4, or any suitable sounding alarm may be secured to the dashboard of the car adjacent the signal-lantern, and the alarm may be sounded in any suitable manner and at any time or times, as maybe desired, either automatically or manually and continuously or periodically.

IV hat I claim is 1. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed only at said words of warning.

2. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections hinged together and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and a transparent globe fitted snugly within said casing and exposed only at said words of warning.

3. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections hinged together and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and means for securing said sections in closed position, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed only at said words of warning.

4. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections hinged together and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and means for securing said sections in closed position, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed only at said words of warning, and means for securing one of the sections of the casing to. the dashboard of a car and permitting the other section to be opened.

5. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections, and having openings in its sides form-ing words of warning, and provided with .top, bottom and rear openings, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly Within said casing and exposed at said words of warning, and provided with openings corresponding with the top, bottom and rear openings of the casing.

6. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections, and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and provided with top, bottom and rear openings, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed at said words of warning, and provided with openings corresponding with the top, bottom and rear openings of the casing, the said bottom opening of the casing being constructed to receive an illuminating device;

7. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections, and

' being constructed to receive an illuminating having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and provided with top, bottom and rear openings, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed at said Words of warning,

and provided with openings corresponding with the top, bottom and rear openings of the casing, the said bottom opening of the casing being constructed to receive an illuminating device, and a ventilator-cap arranged above the top opening of the casing.

8. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising a casing constructed of matched sections, and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and provided with top, bottom and rear openings, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said casing and exposed at said words of warning, and provided with openings corresponding with the top, bottom and rear openings of the casing, the said bottom opening of the casing device, and a ventilator-cap arranged above the top opening of the casing, and the rear opening of the casing being constructed to be fitted to the dashboard of a car 9. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising an opaque casing, constructed of matched sections and having openings in its'sides forming words of warning, and provided with a rear opening adapted to be secured about an electric headlight, and a transparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly with said opaque casing and exposed at said words of warning and provided with an opening corresponding with the rear opening in the opaque casing.

10. In a car-signal, a lantern, comprising an opaque casing, constructed of matched sections and having openings in its sides forming words of warning, and atransparent globe of contrasting color fitted snugly within said opaque casing and exposed only at said words of warning, the said lantern being adapted to be attached to the dashboard of a car, com bined with an audible alarm adapted to be attached to the dashboard in proximity to said lantern to attract attention thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of March, A. D. 1903,

MATTHEV L; AKERS;

WVitnesses:

W. L. MoRRIs, C. J. WILLIAMS. 

